Domestic Drug Makers Ready to Jump in as Viagra Patent Expires in China

Drug regulators here in China are said to be close to approving licences for at least 10 different drug companies to create products to help deal with erectile disfunction.

This comes following Pfizer losing its patent rights here in China for Viagra.

The US drug giant's exclusive rights to sell the active ingredient in the erectile disfunction pill expired in mid-May.

This has opened the window for domestic drug producers to tap into the market.

Pfizer's Viagra had about 60-percent of the erectile disfunction market here in China last year, with Cialis and Levitra making up the rest.

It's estimated there are around 140-million men here in China who suffer from erectile disfunction.